Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
. CA 02210178 1997-07-09
wo 96/25685 PCT/BE96/00010
SPFCTA~T.~S WITH ~N ARTIFICIAT HORIZON
S~bject of the invention
The present invention relates to improvements
made to spectacles so as to provide the person wearing
them with an artificial "horizon".
The term "spectacles" must be understood in the
widest sense, as applying both to neutral spectacles,
spectacles having correcting lenses and sunglasses and to
accessories having the identical function which may be
mounted on spectacles, such as clip-ons.
~ In reality, the present invention applies more
particularly to a spectacles frame with or without lenses
and having an artificial horizon.
Technical ~ield
Many factors, both physiological and psychosoma-
tic, can cause sensations of nausea of the seasickness
type, this term extending, of course, to similar symptoms
such as car sickness, air sickness, etc.
It is obvious that these symptoms are caused by
movement, essentially rolling movement, and secondarily
pitching movement, with the loss of the usual spatial
references.
More particularly at sea, the unpleasant symptoms
are lessened or eliminated by keeping one's gaze on the
horizon line. However, as soon as the usual references
are lost, and in particular when, for example, a person
is inside a boat and more particularly when it is
attempted to read or write for example, the table or book
gives the impression of "slipping away", and the risk of
seasickness lncreases.
In order to remedy this phenomenon and increase
the wearer's comfort, the invention is intended to
substitute the actual horizon line as perceived with an
CA 022l0l78 l997-07-09
artificial horizon giving the impression to the wearer of
a stable horizon line despite the fluctuations which he
suffers due to the effect of the rolling.
It is apparent that the use of spectacles of this
type gives the wearer a situation of stability which
contributes to reducing the symptoms generally associated
with seasickness.
Summary of the prior art
Various techniques have already been proposed for
allowing rotation of a lens in a spectacles frame. Thus,
patent US-4948244 describes a device in which the spec-
tacle lens, which in fact consists of multiple lenses,
may rotate so as to allow the type of lens used to be
modified according to the wearer's wishes. This device is
not intended to create an artificial horizon.
Publication EP-A-0603092 describes a display
system mounted on a helmet, which is intended for pilots
so as to prevent them becoming spatially disoriented and
which recreates an artificial horizon in the region
called the peripheral vision region. This device is not
mounted on spectacles and is intended for very specific
uses. Nor is it conceivable that it be worn permanently.
Document WO-A-9100541 describes spectacles
provided, on the lenses, with lines which are essentially
arranged either horizontally or vertically and which
enable the person wearing the spectacles to line up his
body, his head and his hands with the object which he
wishes to look at, such as, inter alia, a golf ball.
Document US-A-5355182 describes a pair of spec-
tacles which are also intended to be worn by a golfer forthe purpose of enabling him to line up the golf ball with
the target. These spectacles are provided with lenses
essenl_ially having two differently darkened regions
separated by a line which makes an angle of between 5 and
15% [9iC] with the horizontal.
Document US-A-2535321 describes adjustable
spectacles having two regions separated by a fixed strip.
These two regions are essentially intended for two
different types of sight.
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Document US-A-4172662 describes an optical
viewing device comprising a series of lenses and, among
other things, a diaphragm provided with an artificial
horizon. This device is intended to measure angles within
a microscope.
Document US-A-4185903 describes a device which
enables a photocell on a camera to be spatially stabil-
ized. This very complex device comprises, among other
things, means to allow this spatial stabilization of the
photocell.
Solutions proposed ~y the invention
The invention relates to spectacles in the sense
mentioned above, and more particularly to a spectacles
frame which may or may not be provided with lenses,
characterized in that it includes an artificial horizon
which consists of a line visible to the wearer and
maintained in a permanent horizontal position regardless
of the movements of the spectacles or of the head on
which said spectacles are worn.
In order to avoid sudden movements or the simple
fact of walking causing maintained oscillations of the
device, it is advantageous to provide a delaying or
damping means.
Various embodiments are possible according to the
invention.
The principle on which all the embodiments rest
is the fact that there exists a reference which is to
physically define the artificial horizon line. This
reference may, for example, consist of a line drawn on or
incorporated in or applied to lenses, but also of a
reference physically defined by two differently colored
or contrastingly shaded sectors of the lens.
The reference may also consist of a region, of
greater or lesser width, which is clearer for example,
differentiating the two adjacent regions.
In the case in which the lenses are mounted so as
to be able to rotate in the frame, a suitable device
keeps said reference perpendicular to the direction of
gravity.
~ . .
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Practical realization of this set-up is possible
using various techniques and options. It may, for
example, be envisaged that the lenses can rotate in a
groove cut out in the frame, optionally with a peripheral
s mounting of the ball-bearing type.
It may also be envisaged that the glasses are
supported by pistons which float on a liquid of suitable
density. This liquid may be contained in a tube applied
against the spectacles frame or in the latter.
The lens containing this device does not neces-
sarily have to be that provided for the use of the spec-
tacles, in particular the usual spectacles for correcting
the wearer's sight. Various systems, generally termed
clip-ons, that is to say lenses superimposed on the
optical lenses, are possible.
It is also possible to provide a fixed lens and
a rotating lens havi.ng the reference mounted on a common
axis.
It is also possible to provide a movable strip
mounted on a spindle applied to a ~ixed lens or a strip
supported directly by the pistons. In the latter case, it
may even be envisaged having no lenses in the frames.
According to another embodiment, a magnetized
ball or another element, such-as a roller, may slide in
a tube applied against or in a frame. The lens is pro-
vided with a metal plate or with another metal element so
that the movement of the ball brings about that of the
lens.
According to yet another embodiment, it is also
possible to include between two lenses, adhesively bonded
in a sealed manner, two liquids, having a density and a
color which is [sic] different, these optionally being
separated by a float. It is also possible to partly
include therein a single liquid on which a float
optionally rests. In the absence of a float, it is
preferable that the liquid be colored so as to create an
artificial horizon.
According to an embodiment which is different
again, it is possible to envisage providing, between two
-
~.
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lenses adhesively bonded in a sealed manner, an element
which is mounted on a spindle and which enables the artifi-
cial horlzon to be symbolized. This element may be a strip,
a lens having two differently colored sectors, a half-
moon or any other shape enabling the same objective to be
achieved. Furthermore, a liquid which acts as a damper is
added within the two adhesively bonded lens [sic].
Brie~ descriptiQn o~ the drawings
Figure 1 diagrammatically represents a partial view o~ a
spectacles frame having rotating lenses provided
with a line which physically defines an artificial
horizon.
Figures 2 and 3 diagrammatically represent lenses in
which the artificial horizon line is physically
defined respectively by contrasts of two colors or
shades and by a region which differentiates two
adjacent regions by means of a contrast in colors or
in shades.
Figure 4 diagramma~ically represents a device having
rotating lenses mounted on bearings.
Figure 5 diagrammatically represents a device having
rotating lenses mounted on pistons.
Figure 6 diagrammatically represents a superimposition of
a rotating lens having an artificial horizon on a
fixed lens.
Figure 7 diagrammatically represents a design having
moving strips.
Figure 8 diagrammatically represents a design of rotating
lenses having magnetic attraction.~0 Figures 9 to 12 represent several embodiments in the case
in which it is chosen to take two lenses adhesively
bonded to each other in a sealed manner and compris-
ing, within them, a liquid.
~ In the various figures, identical reference
numbers will be used for identical or similar constituent
elements.
Description of a nu~ber of preferred emhodime~t~
In Figure 1, a lens 1 is mounted in the frame 2.
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A line 3 intended to physically define an artificial
horizon for the person wearing these spectacles is drawn,
incorporated or applied on this lens or in this lens.
Because of the fact that the lens is mounted so as to be
able to rotate in the frame and that it is suitably
weighted at its lower part, it will physically define a
constant horizon line for the wearer regardless of the
movements to which he is subjected.
Optionally, it would be conceivable for the
lenses to be completely absent. In this case, only the
frame 2 is provided with a movable element enabling an
artificial horizon 3 to be created.
In Figure 2, the horizon line is physically
defined by the contrast between a first sector 4 and a
second sector 5, these having different shades or colors.
In Figure 3, the horizon line is physically
defined by a region 3 lying between two regions 4 and 4'
whose color or shade is contrasted with respect to the
first region 3.
Figure 4 shows an arrangement having a circular
frame 2 which accommodates a lens 1 which can move and is
able to rotate under the effect of a peripheral bearing
12. The weighting has been symbolized by the reference
number 6. In this embodiment, the rotating lens can move
in a groove cut out in the frame.
Figure 5 shows a device having pistons floating
on a liquid of suitable density. The reference numbers 7
indicate two pistons floating in a tube 8 containing a
liquid of suitable density. The fixing rods 9 enable the
piston to be fixed to the lens. The tube 8 containing the
liquid is applied against a spectacles frame or in the
latter.
Figure 6 shows a fixed lens 10, such as a cor-
recting lens, mounted conventionally in a frame 2.
Superimposed on it is a holing [sic] lens 11 which can
move on a spindle and which keeps the rotating lens in
front of the fixed lens.
In Figure 7, a movable strip 13 has been mounted
on a lens by means of a spindle. Suitable means must, of
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course, be provided so that a weighting e~fect is caused,
which keeps the strip 13 perpendicular to direction of
gravity.
In Figure 8, a magnetized ball or roller 15 has
been used, which slides in a tube 16 applied to or
mounted in a frame. The lens is provided with a metal
plate 17 or another metal element so that the movement of
the ball brings about the movement of the lens. In this
design, the ball 15 runs freely in the tube and is
0 subject to the effect of gravity. Because of its
magnetization characteristics, the effect of the ball is
therefore always to attract the metal part toward the
lowest point, thus providing a constant artificial
horizon. Of course, the functions could be reversed, that
is to say use could be made of a magnetized metal part 17
so that this magnetized metal part is attracted simply by
the metallic nature of the ball 15.
Figure 9 shows an embodiment in which two lenses
21 and 22 have been chosen which are adhesively bonded in
a sealed manner and which contain at least one liquid 23
in the gap between them. Preferably, two liquids 23 and
24 of different color and density are provided.
According to another embodiment as depicted more
specifically in Figure 10, it is possible to envisage
placing a float 25 either on the liquid 23 or between the
two liquids 23 and 24 (not shown).
Figures 11 and 12 depict two other embodiments
very similar to the previous ones in the case in which a
movable reference 26 is used as the hori~on line. This
reference may be in the form of a strip, half-moon or
colored lens. This reference moves either on a spindle 27
passing through the two lenses, as shown in Figure 12, or
by another means, such as a ball bearing (not shown). It
should be pointed out that it is preferred to place in
the gap between the lenses 21 and 22 a liquid 29 which
acts as a damper.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention
have been described, it should be well understood that
many alternative embodiments remain possible within the
. ~ CA 02210178 1997-07-09
scope of this invention, as defined by the appended
clalms .
